Nutrition

The next time you see this gnarled-looking root in the vege shop, don’t walk past it. Chuck it in your basket instead because fresh turmeric is one of the most medicinal spices you can add into your food.

The rhizome (root) can be crushed, chopped or grated into curries, soups, stir-fry's and stews or made into a delicious turmeric latte. It’s also pretty damn fantastic added fresh or powdered into treats, such as coconut ice cream with manuka honey.

There are many health benefits of turmeric because of the way it so effectively gets rid of inflammation in the body. This means it’s a great way to heal and seal the gut, boost immunity, create a stronger digestive system and protect your joints.

In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used for centuries as a treatment for inflammatory joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Regularly eating turmeric is also a good way to naturally improve inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

In India, turmeric paste has been used for centuries as a skin food and topical application because of its healing properties. It’s nature’s oldest anti-ageing secret because it flushes your blood, detoxifies your liver and leaves your skin looking smooth, supple and radiant.

Scientific research is also proving the incredible medicinal power of turmeric, thanks to its curcuminoids. These compounds, found in turmeric, are full of antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage and can improve memory. These same compounds also help to activate powerful enzymes that detoxify and cleanse the liver, as well as encouraging healthy heart function.

There’s also lots of exciting research being done into curcuminoids, their anti-carcinogenic properties and how they may inhibit the growth of certain cancers.

In fact, there's so many cool things you can do with turmeric and so many awesome tips about its health benefits that we'll be sharing a whole lot more on this much-loved root. Stay tuned.